Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee yesterday said policemen implicated in the torture of a teenaged murder suspect crossed the line, while urging that due process be allowed to take its course.
Henry Greene
Rohee also signalled a major shake-up in the West Demerara police division following allegations of torture by the police ranks at the Leonora Police Station, even as the police force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), investigating the case, acquired two additional statements from persons who alleged they were also beaten. Three persons, including the boy, 15, were held for questioning into the murder of ex-Region 3 Vice-Chairman Ramenauth Bisram. One of them was charged on Friday.
“…It appears that the investigating ranks went to the outer limits permissible,” Rohee told reporters yesterday, adding that “From all indications, they crossed the line to physical coercion and instead of applying psychological pressure to the suspect, third-degree methods were used which in today’s context constitutes an inexcusable wrong doing.” He added that the goal now is to find out who did it and to allow due process to take its course, adding that the police must be encouraged and allowed to investigate all crimes.
Meanwhile, Rohee also said he had given general specific directions to the Commissioner of Police Henry Greene about changes in the division, in the wake of the allegations, for which charges are expected to be laid shortly.
Responding to questions from reporters, Rohee said he could not say whether action has been taken against the divisional commander, Paulette Morrison. He explained that he had discussed the matter with Greene and they both concluded that “administrative and managerial changes” in that division have now become “necessary.” However, he made it clear that in the case of a gazetted officer of the force, interdiction is dealt with by the police.
According to the minister, when he first saw the image on Saturday he was in disbelief and had to telephone the police to get the facts. He insisted that he was unaware of the burning of the boy in the Leonora lock ups and as soon as he saw it he contacted the commissioner.
According to the accounts received by this newspaper, the burning took place last Wednesday night.
Responding to a question about whether investigators are focusing on how Kaieteur News got possession of the picture of the burnt child, the minister said that he is not focusing on it. He added that it is an internal police matter. Reading from a prepared statement, Rohee said that there was good news for the force last Friday and then bad news the next day, with the shocking revelation about the beating and torture allegedly by police ranks.
He observed that while the murder led to the usual emotive outcry and the demand that the killers be brought to justice, with the allegation of torture the pendulum has swung in the other direction. Pointing out that justice may be blind, the minister stated that it now seems that it has to look in both directions — the side of the murder victim and to the side of the victims claiming torture. He advised that the public must not lose sight of the fact that there is still the case of Bisram who was brutally murdered. What is critical now, he emphasised, is that in both instances due process must be followed and ultimately the court must decide.
Rohee further pointed out that the government has said time and time again that “it abhors torture and that any act so committed is neither centrally directed nor condoned by the administration.”
He said that with regard to claims of an attempted cover up, the ministry’s rejection of that is based on the view that cover-ups betray the law itself. He added that such action only inspire conspiracies against the rule of law and undermines, by deceit, public trust.
Rohee rejected a claim from Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) that “ranks engaged in torture were given official protection” as a total fabrication aimed at misleading the public. He said the ministry supports the commissioner’s view that “there are unsuitable policemen who will raise the ire of society with the way they operate.” According to him, steps are being taken to root out such ranks when they are discovered.
Under attack
Meanwhile, speaking during the opening of the Junior Officers’ Course No. 19, Greene told those gathered that the torture of prisoners/suspects is not part of the force’s standing orders and noted that with the incident it has once again come under attack. He made it clear that the force was unhappy the developments over the last four days, pointing out that because of the actions of two ranks it is being castigated while its good work is being forgotten. He said that it can come to a point where the public’s perception is that it is a culture for the police to burn people. “I condemn the action of the ranks,” Greene said, adding that he empathised with the young boy, his family and his friends since they have all been caused pain.
Holding up a book which he called “the police’s bible,” Greene said it was the standing orders and nowhere in it does it say anything about torturing. He cited several sections, including the care and custody of prisoners, the powers of the police when it comes to prisoners and the acceptable instances of using violence on a prisoner. “It (the standing orders) is a guide for your work… Sometimes in the anxiety to solve murder, some of these ranks go overboard they go beyond what they should be doing,” Greene said, adding that the perpetrators of the act would be dealt with publicly. He gave assurances that the matter is being investigated by a large team. He was quick to point out that there are a lot of things that need to be done and the investigation into these allegations would not be an easy task. “We have to build the evidence. We have a lot of things to do before we put the evidence together to place someone before the court. We have to investigate the matter properly before we can focus on who is to be placed before the court,” he added.
Greene told those gathered that ranks cannot abuse their power by ill-treating and assaulting prisoners. “It is a matter of utmost gravity for any member without good and sufficient reason, to use violence again a prisoner. It does not say that the police cannot use violence, but you must have good and sufficient reason,” he said.
Such reasons, according to the standing orders, include fending off an attack, the escape or likely escape of a prisoner, or physical violence being used on ranks by the prisoner.
Commenting on the standing order as it relates to confession statements, he noted that these must be obtained in prisoner’s own handwriting with supervision from an officer. If the prisoner cannot write, a confession must be taken by an inspector.
He said that no prisoner should be moved from station to station without permission and if there are allegations of brutality the prisoner must be seen by the police surgeon or a government medical officer, who, if necessary, could move that to hospital. He urged the ranks in the audience to refer to their “police bible” as it clearly lays out all the procedures. Responding to calls for an inquiry into the allegations of police brutality, Greene asked, “Which organization does not have rotten eggs?” adding that the force should not be castigated because of one incident. “We must be allowed to deal with them and we will not back off. That is the way of the law,” he declared.
Suspects still to be identified
Greene later told the media that two officers are under close arrest and from all appearances four persons are involved. They are all attached to the Leonora Police Station.
However, he pointed out that the culprits have not yet been identified by the prisoner and the investigators are working on that aspect of the case. “The identification aspect of it, I think that would be able to put us in a much better frame to decide who goes to court. That’s all we are waiting on to decide,” he stated, but added that the case would not fall through because of a lack of identification.
He stated that a prisoner cannot walk into a police station injury free and then is mysteriously found with injuries. Green stated yesterday that he was unaware of a third person alleging torture, but all three cases will be thoroughly investigated. He said investigators were contemplating whether there was enough evidence to place the third person in custody before the court for murder and had sought the advice from the DPP. At that point he could not say if the advice was sought or if the court had granted an extension to keep the suspect in custody. The suspect was arrested on Tuesday last.
Asked about reports that suspects who are detained at the Leonora station are often brutalized by ranks, Greene said he was unaware of such allegations but once persons come forward investigations will be launched. He expressed surprise that those in custody were not allowed to access to their lawyers, which is clearly set out in the standard orders. He said he was also surprised at the media being locked out of the court by the police, assuring reporters that the issue was being dealt with, since only the magistrate had such authority in a juvenile case. Asked about this being done under the commander’s instruction, Greene said, “let us wait on the investigation.”
A fish rots from the head, there you must get rid of the head..in the police case…Roheeeee and “not ripe” needs to be removed immediately!!!
The Guyanese needs to protest until this happens.
Sandman in the 60’s, constables were brought in from outstations to administer “investigative techniques” to prisoners with their faces covered. The following day they (the constables from country districts)were not there and those at the station would ask the prisoner “yuh want da man to come back tonight, yuh betta tell we wah we want fuh hear”. Oh yes, that is how Greene and others were trained, but I guess the OP’s are all gone and the newbies don’t know what to do. ISNM
no minister came forward and said anything when the men from buxton were tortured now everyone is commenting only for a season …the season will end…
Guyana; “SandHurst First”… can be returned to the “Paradise Lost” it once was if the electorate do what needs to be done come General Elections 2001 in Guyana. They should let history be their guide; and, now with 28-years of knowledge of PNC Led Governance on the right; and, with 18-years of knowledge of PPP Led Governance of the left – they the Guyanese electorate (like the people in IOWA, USA in 2008) with the power to bring about sea-change in Guyana can have what ever they like.
SHF. Are you not a guyanese. The longest journey, begins with the first step. You have correctly seen the need for protest, so it starts with you.
Oh! I forgot to add:
And, You Get What You “Vote” Or “Pay” For!
Keep it lit Stabroek News (SN) and all!
Peace.
Can rohee tell us what are the published guidelines for handling of prisoners? is there a police training curriculum we can use to review and understand what training these officers received on how to deal with prisoners etc?
The banana republic seems to have completely gone amok. Greene is completely useless he has demonstrated that he is incapable of running an organization of professional men and women and Rohee and Jagdoe should send a message by dismissing him immediately.
The buck has to stop somewhere, enough of these shenanigans. No police chief anywhere except in countries with non-democratic records would survive a crisis like this.
Greene must be made accountable and he must resign immediately.
I know he is a PPP tool but enough is enough.
I’m wondering why it took the GPF 3 or 4 days to take the victim to the hospital. This is totally heartless. The victim was apparently left for dead, but somehow managed to survive. Why didn’t the media ask this question?
You lead that protest.
“Police crossed the line?’ What manner of madness is this?
This is a SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENCE and should be dealt with accordingly. The officer (s) guilty of this crime should be dismissed from the GPF immediately and tried in court.
What goes around comes around. When the law is violated we all need to speak out regardless of the ethnicity of the victim of these transgressions. Today it happens to someone whom you do not know but tomorrow it can be you. We must be our brother’s keeper. “All are involved, all are consumed.”
Those is the legislature make laws, and the law enforcement agencies are to ensure that everyone abides by them but what we see happening are these very persons holding public office are themselves guilty of violating these laws. Leaders need to lead by example. Have we lost our moral compass?
Stop it Samaroo. This is a sovereign state. You know there are approved standard protocols in place. Your anger and finger-pointing is understood but misdirected. All countries in the world have rogue elements within the ranks.
Moderator and editor Anand Persaud you have disintegrated Stabroek News into a selective ppp bloggers utopia.Why do you publish the guttural language,overt racist diatribe and venom from the ppp supporters;yet you mute the coherent logical factual articulations of others?
Do i have to become a card carrying ppp member, like you, in order to have my views publish????Mr Decaires is probably turning over in his grave.What a shame!!!
Yo “Ulric”! You have said inter alia: “Sandman in the 60’s, constables were brought in from outstations to administer “investigative techniques” to prisoners with their faces covered. The following day they (the constables from country districts)were not there and those at the station would ask the prisoner “yuh want da man to come back tonight, yuh betta tell we wah we want fuh hear”. Oh yes, that is how Greene and others were trained…”
You referred to police training in British Guiana during circa 60’s; and, not so long ago the American Government had to deal with what went down at “Abu Ghraib”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103383446&sc=gaw&gclid=CMjjl-6d750CFWpd5QodDgl8MQ
So, it would have been most appropriate for you to have referred to President Obama’s Speech which was given to the General Assembly of the United Nations quite recently. And, circa 1960’s is not circa 2008 – 2025!
Ow sf… try fuh get some sleep nuh!!!
The Co-operative Republic of Guyana is a well govern State . The country has developed tremendously under the leadership of President Bharrat Jagdeo . I am standing in for Reddy who cannot deal with the truth about the inept govt of Guyana .
Sandman look at the picture on the wall behind Mr Greens.
PEOPLE LISTEN UP!!!
ALL OF YOU CHATTER BOXES THAT ARE LIVING IN THE TRI-STATE AREA HERE IN THE USA AND ALWAYS CHATTING ABOUT THE ABC COUNTRIES; WELL WE’RE LIVING IN THE ABC COUNTRIES. LET’S GET THIS MESSAGE OUT TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BY HITTING 1st AVE IN FRONT OF ONE UN PLAZA. THIS I WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO DO IF YOU GUYS WANT REAL CHANGE IN GUYANA, AS FOLLOWS:
Send Amen-ra a email at bushman22001@yahoo.com and let’s PLAN and ORGANIZE a PROTEST RALLY at One UN PLAZA on 1st ave NY NY Wednesday morning around 9 or 10 am or any other convenient time for at least an hour.
We need to send a message to the International community about the torturing of the young boy and other important problems people are facing in Guyana.
IT IS TIME TO PUT UP! AND SHUT UP! “DON’T TALK THE TALK, IF YOU CAN’T WALK THE WALK!” SADDLE UP AND GET YOUR PLACARDS OR BANNERS AND LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER FOR THE UNFORTUNATE YOUNGER ONES IN GUYANA, ENUFF SAID. MAYBE STABROEK NEWS COULD PROVIDE US WITH A REPORTER.
SH, diamond dog is right, we here are not born americans, we r naturlized citizens,some are residents, yet we do protest in the streets peacefully, that’s our rights here.
You are our born Guyanese brother, what are u doing now that the rain has come down?, don’t let the sun go down on us SandHurst, we need ur help, ur there, let the ball start moving with u of course.
Sorry friends typo “Naturalized”.
Hey “Wiggins-Barbados” (for, just as I proffered a few days ago the rapidly energy loosing and (EVER)”REDDY” BATTERY)!
Re: “I am standing in for Reddy who cannot deal with the truth about the inept govt of Guyana…”
Also from the American Movie: “A Few Good Men”:
“In court, Kaffee questions Jessup and produces circumstantial evidence that suggests there was never any intention of transferring Santiago. When this proves insufficient, Kaffee confronts Jessup regarding the incompatibility of his ordering Santiago’s transfer—ostensibly for his safety from hazing—with his assertion that he ordered that Santiago was not to be touched, and that his orders were always followed. When Kaffee asks Jessup point-blank, “did you order the Code Red?” the judge announces that he is in contempt of court, but Jessup cannot resist the challenge. When Kaffee exclaims “I want the truth!” Jessup emphatically declares, “you can’t handle the truth!”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Few_Good_Men_(film)
So, from the above referenced…. just whom in this latest Guyanese atrocious scenario should be substituted for “Colonel Nathan Jessup”???.
Never know that “the truth” can have such an affect on the life of the (EVER)”REDDY” BATTERY!!! Perhaps, it could have been the results of “too much exposure to the water at the beach”.
ceasing all countries do not have criminals found every month in their armed forces.
Get a grip this is what people are calling criminilization of the state. This is exactly what is going on.
This is the nonsense we allow people like Rohee to get away with…he should RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. What line have they crossed? The line between “roughing up” and torture…..there is no line to cross Rohee. The only person who has crossed the line is you.
OWWWWW Amrit Singh…..get a life nuh??!!!
Folks,I don’t even read three quraters of these posts anymore. You know why ? What we have here is two or three people with an anti-government agenda with time on their hands and gossiping and hogging up the show .Several blog under several names. And log on about ten times per day to see to who reply to who.They feel their observations are earth shattering and will impact on Guyana political culture.Its a pipe dream, though some comments are worth replying to.
Folks, get your head out of the clouds and come down to earth. Stop huffing and puffing. In this case, the police will carry out their investigations. End of story…Peace..
Hey folks! What do you know… the Oceanic Sprays have finally dried out from the “EVER)”REDDY” BATTERY”; and, not the closing word “Peace”.
So how about if the few bloggers here respond by saying… NO JUSTICE… NO “PEACE”!
Is there any wonder who is pulling the “purse strings” (unless activities are carried out in a private capacity) so much so that the “EVER)”REDDY” BATTERY’S” relaxation at the “beach” was; or, may have been disturb.
NACK DEM AFF!!!!DAY AINT FIT FU LIVE PON TAX-PAYERS MONEY
TAX-PAYERS PAYING GDF AND GPF TO TORTURE, KILL AND ROB
THEM!!!!!
A few months ago President Jagdeo was very active and visible as he berated the Prime Minister of Barbados and Bajans for treating Guyanese what he termed “inhumanely.” He said he would not stand for Guyanese being mistreated in other countries. Now Guyanese are making international news for the torture and mistreatment of fellow Guyanese citizens, Jagdeo is nowhere to be seen or heard. One of the last things I read that he said is that he won’t lose any sleep over Guyanese criminals killing other Guyanese criminals. My guess is that he isn’t losing any sleep over this issue.
PS. I noticed that the story about the tortured teenager was on the online version of “Taiwan News” (etaiwannews.com) yesterday. Imagine, people in far away Taiwan read about this foolishness.
Watch ya words/mouth, this is not FOOLSHNESS bajegal.
Yes bajegirl , Jagdeo , The PM of St.Vincent & the Grenadines , Compton Bourne , Sir Sonny Ramphal et al , berated us and saying that we treated illegal guyanese immigrants in a getapo-like manner . Now the police in Guyana has tortured a guyanese minor and the people whom attacked us are SILENT . To put the blame of this wickedness on 2 officers is wrong , ALL of the senior officers aware of what was going on and did nothing should also be arrested and charged .
I gotta agree with you, bajegal. Jagdeo goes around the world trying to play statesman but does nothing to improve the lives of his people.
Bajegal have’nt you gotten it that little tirade by jadeio was just a an act for his supporters{about guyanese being mistreated}he don’t really care..
Rohee speaks as if this is the first case of torture in that sorry country. They are all running scared , now , because the victim is not one of the ‘usual suspects’. I presume those officers carried their duties in a customary fashion – standard operational procedures. Now, they are being made the scapegoats with threats of criminal charges.
I always say that society has a way of correcting itself. All the authorities are guilty here. Those officers came to the investigation with special directives – solve this one quickly by any means possible.
Jagdeo said what he said because he could not take who was coming home i large numbers…..in Berbice a crab catcher was beaten with a piece of wood in his head….a bet he aint going to jail.
Bajegal i was thinking the same thing. Where is Jagdeo? Where is SIr Shridath? (sitting in his house in Sandy Lane) Ralph Gonsalves is busy tricking the Vincentian people into voting for his new constitution. If this had happened in Barbados Jagdeo et al would have immediately made a report to the United Nations about the inhumane and Uncivilized treatment this young man received.
Bajegal I have noticed something flying I think that it Jagdeo flying pas Guyana. If it is not him then he is “STILL SLEEPING”
Giving written statements to the Police,even when you are a victim,can be an intimidating experience.Some treat you,as if you are a “suspect”.Some of these ranks are ill-mannered.They lack the basics,in interviewing witnesses,and interrogating “suspects”.More training Mr Commissioner!!!
Re: “Giving written statements to the Police,even when you are a victim,can be an intimidating experience…”
What ever happen to these words – “you have the right to remain silent as anything you say may be be used against you in a court of law….”?
So, how a bow a speedy trial in an open court with the television cameras rolling for the world to hear and see.
Kaieteur Gold doesn’t the Miranda Rights only apply in the US?
The Miranda Rights only applies to Kaieteur Gold because it follows him where ever he goes. Even in other countries.
Hey “SKY (Guyana needs Major Therapy)”! You have asked “doesn’t the Miranda Rights only apply in the US?”
Here is some information gleaned online:
Re: “The (US) Constitution reserves many rights for those suspected of crime. One of the fears of the Framers was that the government could act however it wished by simply saying an individual was a suspected criminal. Many of the rights in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, such as habeas corpus, the right to remain silent, and the right to an attorney, are designed to ensure that those accused of a crime are assured of those rights.
Police were able to take advantage of the fact that not everyone knows their rights by heart. In fact, it is likely that most citizens could name a few of their rights as accused criminals, but not all of them. The police’s position was that if the accused, for example, spoke about a crime without knowing that they did not need to, that it was the person’s fault for not invoking that right, even if they did not know, or did not remember, that they had that right…”
http://www.usconstitution.net/miranda.html
Sorry, I am not an “Legal Eagle” like some of those from the “ancestral tree”; (see below attached link); but, it is believed very much so that the same applies to the Guyana Constitution.
http://www.genealogymagazine.com/luckhoo.html
Hey “SKY (Guyana needs Major Therapy)”! I vividly recall some remarks made by one of Guyana’s most illustrious legal luminaries Prof. J. O. F. Haynes at the University of Guyana quite a few years ago; and, in those remarks the words “organic laws” and “inorganic laws” were used the state of certain laws in the context of Guyana. Therefore, what comes readily to mind is way in which “csingh – The War On Crime Must Go On” appear to be “so full of himself” in “his” opinion that there were measurable (chemical) erosion of the “Fundamental Rights of Individuals in Guyana” and other Commonwealth countries which make the United States of America the only country where the laws pertaining to the “Bill of Rights” are upheld.
Therefore, it is hoped that from the little bit of research I have taken the time to do it would provide additional information with regards to your question. Please see the below attached link: Re: “CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN GUYANA”
and, which in part also states in its introduction:
Re: “The very first constitutional protection for fundamental rights, or Bills of Rights as it is familiarly called, in the Commonwealth Caribbean was introduced in the pre-independence 1961 British Guiana constitution.[1] The Bill of Rights was retained in the 1966 Independence Constitution as well as the 1970 and 1980 Republican Constitutions.
It was not long after the Bill of Rights was first promulgated that a challenge was successfully brought by litigants alleging that their fundamental rights had been contravened….”
http://www.guyanalaw.net/present00-2.html
Add this to another PPP cover up. No justice will be had for the TORTURED teenage boy and his family.
Let is not also forget the Kwame McKoy Saga, it is now clearly a bad idea to turn over the 14 year old boy in that mental TORTURE case to the police.
Why is the 14 year old boy still under the control of the people accused of TORTURING him? Especially since manickchand, Green and Rohee all agree it was TORTURE?
This child should be immediately released from the state Police’s control. Nothing less will be tolerated.
ATTENTION PPP DICTATORS:
WE IN THE DIASPORA DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE CHILD INTO THE CUSTODY OF HIS PARENTS. IF OUR DEMAND IS NOT MET BY END OF DAY TODAY, WE WILL PROCEED WITH OUR PLANNED DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF ALL THE GUYANA EMBASSIES WORLDWIDE. THIS WILL HOIHGLIGHT ATTENTION TO THE TORTOROUS PPP GUYANA GOVERNNMENT.
BR, no one in their right minds would do that, hand over “Julius” to those Goons.
You are alone here bishpattiee…
We also DEMAND that Miss Manickchand appear with A GOOD(HUMAN RIGHTS)lawyer to DEFEND the HUMAN RACE
What is this diaspora you speaketh of?
Administrative and managerial changes need to be effected in Region 2 as well.
There is a Divisional Commander there who has been accused of being partisan to a select few while slamming his phone and berating others.
This matter has been brought to the attention of the PCA, the Office of Professional Responsibilities in the GPF and even the Minister of Home Affairs himself.
I guess it has been shelved supposedly because the complainants are disgruntled citizens who cannot appreciate the professional work ethic of the inculpable Divisional Commanders.
Mr Greene, you stand in front of the picture of your Commander-in-Chief. Both of you have lead the destruction of Guyana by ignoring law and order in my beloved country! You were Crime Chief when Roger Khan started his madness, when drugh lords walked free and build mansons, when the jail break happened, when the Berbice smuggling intensified, when the gov’t corruption became glaring…What you did you? Turn a blind eye, became friend of the underserving and pretending things will work themselves…
In the U.S people would have called for your resignation if you didn’t have the decency to do it yourself. The President would have been impeached and hauled before the Congress to answer for his actions. The PPP supporters are silent out of blind loyalty. How can a people and a society be so insensitive to think that they will be immuned from this barbarity becuase it is their party in power, they pun top! Time to save Guyana from the rouges…
Another horrible and sad indication of the level to which law and order have sunk in Guyana. There is no excuse that anyone can offer for this despicable behaviour. My major concern is the Commissioner’s statement that they are now awaiting the victim’s identification of the culprits of this act. Come Sir, with due respect to you, this is the most heartless and insensitive line to now take. The young fellow physically and emotionally scarred, scared no doubt must now point out who did that to him? To me the Commissioner must know, must have station record who were on duty at the station during the time of the incident. This is all that is needed and the investigation starts there and the Commissioner has the power and the authority to demand the answers from his officers. If you are serious about this, Mr Commissioner, let your officers feel pressure from you. You are in charge. Don’t put more pressure on the young man.
The Commissioner and the Minister have finally spoken and their words are hollow and not reassuring. Under no circumstances could they stonewall as the evidence is compelling in addition to being tragic. Listen to the smarmy words. “They crossed the line.” “Let due process takes its course.” “…It appears that the investigating ranks went to the outer limits permissible,” “third-degree methods were used which in today’s context constitutes an inexcusable wrong doing.” The people who perpetrated this atrocity are beastly and more dispatch is needed to ascertain their removal from the G.P.F.
“He insisted that he was unaware of the burning of the boy in the Leonora lock ups and as soon as he saw it he contacted the commissioner.” This statement does does not reduce the minister’s responsibility and eventual accountability. The brutal torture happened Wednesday and the lad did not see a doctor until Saturday. This is inhumane and describes a culture of invincibility, unaccountability and total disregard for the security of the person. When people can be eliminated six at a time in one night by forces friendly to the police and government and we continue business as usual, this is the final result. The police and government cannot be trusted to investigate themselves and a whitewash is as certain as the excuses and statements of shock.
Totally agree Bora.
danlex. The inmates are now the administrators of the asylum.
Every night before I sleep I ask myself one question: Why didn’t President Cheddi Jagan disband the police force he inherited from Desmond Hoyte in 1992 and create a new, clean, community-caring and balanced force?
After 17 years, even a snail could have rehabilitated this institution. Your words are hollow when placed beside the adulation and martyrdom for Roger Khan. Where was the outrage when the victim was “Biscuit”? Why is this victim special?
you go figure that out, i see you just wake up from you sleep and slumber.
Why are you asking yourself that before you slide into your slumber? You should have proposed it while you were awake and Pres. Jagan was alive. Please don’t tell me about the PNC and their cries of vitimisation because it happened in the ministries and other state run organisations.
The army and the police force do not refect Guyana and we need to ask ourselves, why.
yasuman71,
It is disgraceful for you to make such a statement. The PPPee have been in power for 17 years, how much more time do they need to clean up th GPF. What you are failing to admit is that the PPPee condoned,encouraged and promoted corruption not only it the GPF, but every aspect of life in Guyana. Was it not the PPPee who referred to torture as “Roughing up”.
Did Obama did that in USA where you lives .Andn’t its about leadership their was many person s that was torture by guyana police force ,suspects dice in police coustody did anything come out of it.Jamaica sacks his commissior of police to fail to put things in place to deal with crime rate .
Haven’t you wondered too why President Cheddi Jagan did not get rid of the Burnham constitution?
I have always wondered why Jagdeo did not overhaul the GDF and GPF. It seems like a no brainer to me. Overhaul the law enforcement entities and secure the nation. Security is paramount to any national endeavor.
Now I get it. The GPF and GDF have deep rooted allegiance to another entity. They do not serve the interest of the government.
To truly disband the GPF meant the firing of most or all police members. After the PPP victory in 1992, the country was in a fragile state, even more so because the loyalty of the Security Forces still favored the PNC; I’m not sure if much has changed since then.
Putting hundreds of police officers or GDF members out of a job abruptly would have created new dangers for the new Government and population. History will show us that some of the most notorious criminals
in Guyana were ex-police and/or army members.
The loyalty and integrity of new and old members of the Force will always remain questionable. Ethnicity and political affiliation seems to govern the output of these institution. Many join because it’s a job opportunity than a duty to serve one’s nation and its people. A Police Force or Army consisting of non-patriotic members will always be imperil.
You must be day dreaming.
RodRick’s perspective makes more sense than many would like to admit. I agree.
yasuman 71, every night before i sleep, i ask myself why don’t i say my praise and atone for the sins i have helped perpetrate on the guyanese people. that what you should be asking yourself yasuman71…God fearing people don’t condone wrong doing.
You people are all unbelievable! Who should the GPF be loyal to? The PPP, the PNC, the AFC??? What happened to upholding the LAWS of GUYANA? What happened to PROTECTING and SERVING the people of Guyana??? Pathetic, all of you!!!
Yasu, Every morning you wake up thinking of Mark Benkak.
Every night before you sleep you thinking of the Hoyte police force.
These times you should reserve for a little prayer, not thinking foolishness. To give your illness a name, I would call it a version of post-natal depression.
Yesman, I ask myself the opposite question. Why did the force start employing midgets (mentally and physically challenged)?. Oh yes, they came from Robb Street. ISNM
Oh yasuman those people you talking about don’t want to join the force they want to migrate to the US and Canada or become Guyanese “businessmen”. Get real man. The ones you have there now are the only ones you are going to get. They need the job. And you don’t have to worry it doesn’t matter their ethnicity, they are fiercely loyal to the ruling party. Just look at how many “suspects” were gonned down or brutalized at their hands.
sorry nosuman,but it seems you asked youself the wrong question, it should go like this, why didnt they do something after 17yrs in power and try and fix it into a caring and balanced force.
Clear and concise observations, RodRick. I am sure the Bossman and csingh knows this very well and I feel there comments were rhetoric in nature.
Guyana has to evolve and slowly eject the criminal elements in the joint forces. This will take time especially at the glacial pace the government has effected changes in this regard during the last 17 years. The British and the CIA beaqueathed Guyana a mess and it is going to take time to evolve progress.
RodRick,yasuman and csingh,I very much agreed with you guys.
Continue sleeping, you will get the answer….You are such an unashamed apologist Yasuman71, a loyalist who have no conscience…the PPP cockroaches have eaten it all. How in the name of reason, is the police force today the same Cheddi inherited from Hoyte……Ramjattan have spoken and you still wondering….name this kind of crap happening under HOYTE, name it when HOYTE had party hacks working in the intelligence unit of the army torturing people……but yuh know what? DEH SHOE IS PUN DEH OTHER FOOT…FEET JUST LIKE YOURS…..some time ago, it was roughing up, now is torture….go cry in yuh sleep!!!
Yasuman everytime i go to bed everynight i just think about all the opportunities the PPP have squandered to embrace democracy and bring lasting change and security for the people of Guyana.
What a waste the past 17 years has been?
Rohee and Greene are typical of what Guyana has come to. Not surprising to me there statements. I personally think they can careless about this situation. They are only doing this as another public relation stunt. It took them 4 days to respond after heavy criticism. How in the world do they not know what’s going on in their own backyard. Their is alot of evil in Guyana. Lets see the fast this one dies down. God’s willing someone in Guyana finally gets a heart and do the right thing for once.
In this case he should ask STEVIE WONDERS (HE IS BLIND) that child was BLINDFOLDED!!!!!! PURE COVER-UP!!!! Rohee! Lunchoen! Greene! Seelall! Jagdeo! BIG BROTHER IS ON THE WATCH! HE NEVER SLEEPS! HE ALSO INVISTIGATES!!!
Seems that Rohee is saying that there is a permissible “INNER LIMIT”
When a prisoner complained to GRAHA a couple of months back that police had put a blindfold over his eyes, I feel that this might have been an ‘inner limit’.
GUYANA IS NOT CANADA, OBSERVER.
It’s called ‘DUE PROCESS’.